Members
Greg Koltyk
Clarinet
Bio Coming Soon.
Mitchell Wechsler
Cornet
Born and raised in New York City, Mitchell started his trumpet studies while in high school. He went on, as a scholarship student, to earn a Bachelor and Master of Music degree from the University of Hartford and Rice University respectively. While working on a Doctor of Music degree as a member of the Bulldog Brass Quintet at the University of Georgia, Mitch performed extensively as a featured artist with his teacher, Fred Mills of the Canadian Brass.
As an original member of the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra, Mitch performed under the baton of James Levine for two summers. He then completed fall tours with Maestro Levine and Maestro Paavo J’rvi to Europe, North and South America performing on world class stages including Carnegie Hall (USA), Philhamonie (Germany), Tonhalle (Switzerland) and Sala Sao Palo (Brazil). As a freelancer Mitch has appeared with the New World Symphony, Miami City Ballet, Charleston Symphony and Reno Philharmonic. In addition, he enjoys the diversity of performing in Big Band, Salsa y Merengue, Music Theater and pops settings.
Mitch currently is an active freelancer in Michigan performing regularly with the Grand Rapids Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, Assumption Grotto Orchestra (Detroit), and as Principal Trumpet of the West Shore and Jackson Symphony Orchestras.
His other major teachers include Armando Ghitalla, Chris Gekker and Vince Penzarella. Mitchell spends his summers on faculty at the Hartwick Summer Music Festival as a member of the Hartwick Brass Quintet.
John Rutherford
Trombone
John Rutherford is one of Detroit’s leading freelance trombonists. He earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan after two years of study at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. John is working on his Master of Music and has held teaching positions at the University of Toledo, Albion College, Henry Ford Community College, and most recently at Oakland University.
John has performed and recorded with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra. He has served as guest principal trombonist of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra and has performed abroad with the Jerusalem International Symphony, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Palermo, Sicily, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra, and most recently at the Santo Domingo Music Festival in the Dominican Republic.
An active chamber musician, John has performed with the Detroit Chamber Winds, the Boston Chamber Ensemble, the Michigan Chamber Brass, the Spectrum Brass Quintet, and is the founding member of the Motor City Brass Quintet, whose 2009 debut CD features the premier recording of Pulitzer Prize winner John Harbison’s Christmas Vespers. He has recorded with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble (Silk Road Journeys: When Strangers Meet), for Sony Classical as part of the Silk Road Project. With the Silk Road Ensemble, John toured a large part of North America, including performances at Carnegie Hall.
On the other side of the spectrum, John performs with many of Detroit’s leading jazz ensembles and is lead trombonist with the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra. He performs on tenor trombone, bass trombone, and tuba for the pit orchestras at many theaters in Michigan and Ohio and has played in bands and orchestras for artists including Ray Charles, Jimmy Heath, Christian McBride, Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, George Russell, Terence Blanchard, Patti Austin, Gladys Knight, Debbie Gibson, the Four Tops, the Temptations, the Fifth Dimension, and Dennis DeYoung of Styx. John is the founding member of the Motor City Horns, who recently joined Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band on their 2006-2007 “Face the Promise” North American tour. With the Motor City Horns, John has collaborated with Clarence Clemons and the Temple of Soul, The Verve Pipe, Carl Craig and Tribe, and frequently with Alexander Zonjic. With Zonjic, they have shared the stage and crafted horn arrangements for many well known jazz artists, including Bob James and Jeff Lorber. He has recorded for radio and television commercials at studios in Detroit and Los Angeles and is a voting member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYS).
John uses Audio Technica microphones, Shure P9R In-Ear system, Robert Keely modified Mello Wah and Boss DD3 effects pedals, and a Novus System effects processor.
Paul Onachuk
Clarinet
Bio Coming Soon.
Jacob Cameron
Tuba
Tubist Jacob Cameron has taught at universities throughout the United States and has led an active and interesting performing career. As a soloist, Cameron was the Artist Division winner of the 1996 Leonard Falcone International Tuba Competition, a second place winner of the Lansing Matinee Musical Orchestral Brass Competition and a national finalist for both the high school and collegiate brass divisions of the MTNA solo competition. He has also performed numerous solo recitals including guest recitals at Indiana State University , Michigan State University, UNC Greensboro, and the Interlochen Arts Academy .
Large ensemble experience includes performances with the Blue Ash Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Cincinnati Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Lansing Symphony, Lebanon Symphony, Orchestra X, Richmond Symphony (IN), Saginaw Bay Symphony, Springfield Symphony (OH), West Shore Symphony and the Wilmington Symphony. An active chamber musician, he has recently performed with the Buerkle Brass, Canterbury Brass, Michigan Chamber Brass, Pamlico Sound , Today’s Brass Quintet, the Queen City Brass and is a current member of the Motor City Brass Quintet and the Spectrum Brass Quintet.
Mr. Cameron received his M.M. in Tuba Performance from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and his B.M. in Tuba Performance from Michigan State University, where he is currently pursing his DMA. His primary teachers are David E. Kirk and Phil Sinder.
Jacob Cameron is currently Instructor of Tuba and Euphonium at Grand Valley State University, and Artist/Faculty at the Bay View Music Festival in Bay View, Michigan. He has held teaching positions at Wright State University, East Carolina University, Calvin College and Cornerstone University.